Focal Length & angle of view

I am very new to photography and am trying desperately to understand the terminology.

Could someone explain to me concept of focal length? I have an 18-55 lens and simply cannot get clear on the concept of "the smaller the number, the wider the area the camera sees"...at 18mm my camera sees a wider view than at 55mm..why would a smaller number "see more".shouldn't it more correctly be called focal WIDTH? I think it's the term LENGTH that is throwing me off......

Re: Focal Length

Focal Length is one of the few numbers in photography which actually works in what we consider "normal" progression. Because it is a measurement of the (effective) distance from the front lens to the film/sensor plane, a longer lens will have a larger number.

The fact that a longer lens will have a more narrow field of view is not a part of the equation which calculates "focal length." That is an effect of its relationship to the film/sensor area and shape.

f:stops are backwards because they are fractions and we don't bother with the "one over" part of the term.
Shutter speeds are backwards because they are fractions and we don't bother with the "one over" part of the term.
ISO (ASA) numbers are backwards in relation to how much light is needed because that was the way the inventors thought.